Death of a Rook and Trouwerner

There is quite a bit happening here and there. I finished the book Death of a Rook by Kate Atkinson for Wednesday’s book group.

I thought it was an okay book. I’ve not read her before but know she is popular. It is pretty much a take off of the golden crime age and I thought very similar to an Agatha Christie novel, The humour in it was the best bit. I kept asking myself, why? Agatha Christie did it so well, why is she trying to replicate it. I’m sure there is a great literary answer but it escapes me. It gets a little discombobulated at the end. People running around the mansion playing a murder game, Dead bodies here and there. Who is part of the game, who isn’t?

It begins with our retired police detective, now private, being hired to find a missing , possibly Renaissance art work after the elderly matriarch dies. She has all the greedy relatives wanting to cash in. A couple of the characters were developed well but others seemed like drop ins yet they had important roles. Anyway, it was mostly entertaining and probably would be better if I were on a long distance flight without distractions.

Next week I’m going to a Fullers book shop launch of Trouwerner by Tasmanian indigenous elder, Aunty Patsy Cameron, journalist Martin Flanagan and our previous governor Kate Warner.

I was lucky that I got the first copy the library ordered and picked it up this week. I was going to read a few pages of it last night to see how I like it and next thing I knew it was after midnight and I was on page 60. It is so good. The history takes place mainly in the north of the state and on Flinders Island where the Aboriginal population was settled back in the 1800s where many died. We get more history of those days in the book. I can’t wait to hear the discussion of this book and hope to finish the book in time for the event next Friday. More on this later.

Other activities. Monday I went swimming at the spa in town. Woke up after a nights sleep of up and down. Pilates was not in my mind when morning came so I headed off to this pool. No one else there except one young woman in the corner chair reading a book enjoying the steaming of her sinuses. I guess that’s as good a reason as any to be there.

I had the small pool and waterfall to myself and splashed around for half an hour. The room is low light as well so very relaxing. Then I hopped in the newly repaired jacuzzi spa and enjoyed the heat on my tired old bones.

Afterwards I adjourned to my favourite cafe outdoors and watched people as I had a toasted ham, cheese and pineapple sandwich and a cappuccino. I made a 30 minute friend, an elderly local woman of 87, who was also enjoying a coffee and we shared our glaucoma stories. That made me laugh. How far we’ve come from being young and vibrant to older and half blind. Haha, you have to laugh. Then we each went our separate ways to our busses home.

While waiting for the bus I heard crazy dog barking coming down our main road through town. I looked up and saw a WWII motorbike with side car coming by. In the side car was a large black labrador retriever, wearing goggles, happily barking his head off. Of course I didn’t have my camera. That is always the way.

For something different-

Last week I made some pumpkin muffins. I had a hankering for American tasting pumpkin pie but wanted to use local pumpkin and not Libby’s canned pumpkin from USA foods.com. With the correct spices I was able to replicate the taste exactly so who needs to buy American food? At least there wasn’t a tariff on it. Lol.

A couple of more gym sessions during the week, another Fullers event on Thursday evening, more on that later and my monthly seniors meal with friends filled out the week.

Upcoming: tomorrow I will be attending the Pancreatic cancer fundraiser as one of the required photographers recording the event. My brief is to photograph the speakers, stall holders and purple costumed people and dogs. We get there early to set up and then let the fun begin. I think it will be moving, fun, and important. I’ll post a couple of photos later if they turn out. We’ve been asked to turn in 100 photos each they will then be turned over to the organisers for marketing and advertising.

Monday is a public holiday here for 8 Hour day or Labor day. 8 hours work, 8 hours life, 8 hours sleep. Though I don’t know many people who stick to that schedule. I’ll use it as a quiet day at home after Sunday’s activities.

Well I could say about the week- that’s a wrap!